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What wfp gear would you recommend for a newbie?

TheBigGuy

New member
Messages
12
Alright chaps,

New to the forum and read the sticky for newbs already, thing is my dad already has a window cleaning round which he is slowly winding down.

My aim is to pick up the pieces and start on my own (I have worked with him using trad method in the past).

The advice on the sticky was top drawer to be fair, just wondering if anyone can nudge me in the direction of a particular trolley/backpack system?

I'm in a soft water area and only have a car for now, don't want to plow too much cash into it to start.

Appreciate any advice!

 
If you're handy you can go cheapest & make your own custom one, there's a thread somewhere.

Otherwise it's usually either Window Cleaning Warehouse or Pure Freedom for trolleys/backpack or backpack from Gardiners.

 
This would be a good starter package.

It has a trolley, 11L DI vessel, 25L of Tulsion resin, 24' pole, battery charger and a TDS meter for £634. All you would need is extra 25L barrels which can be bought on eBay.

http://www.thecleaningwarehouse.co.uk/water-genie-complete-di-packages-1413-p.asp

Or you could buy the trolley on its own including charger for £371 and add the extra bits if you can get them cheaper http://www.thecleaningwarehouse.co.uk/water-genie-window-cleaning-trolley-for-water-fed-pole-1411-p.asp

I'd go for just the trolley and buy the resin for £72ish from most places, a TDS meter (be aware of fakes on eBay), 11L DI vessel off eBay (a fella posts on here that sells them), a few 25L barrels off eBay and a Gardiners CLX-22 pole. You would need hozelock type fittings on your pole if you went for this trolley though.

I would buy another 11L DI pretty soon after starting up as it will preserve your resin.

I used to put 6 barrels in my car before I went van mount.

Where are you in the country, as I have a few spare barrels in my loft that someone can have for free.

 
If yer really short on cash there's a good thread on here making your own pole from a Harris pole. If you know a car garage they would probably let you have 25lt barrels. Always have a good brush. That's what cleans the window. The pole just gets you up there. Never understood why people spend so much on a pole when just doing domestic first floor. It's not high & it's just to get you up there. As I said the brush cleans it. I use a wcw backpack. Been going strong for 2 years now so can reccomended it.

 
hi i da cheapest for the full kit on ebay red hat diving cost me £300...link on the posts somewhere...just wanted to say hi and welcome to the forum...TheBigGuy...nice profile name...but...what part of you inspired it...oh sorry...this is the fun forum after all....:rofl:

 
Thanks for your replies, really appreciate it.

I have had a look at the WCW back pack deal and apart from reminding me of wrestling it looks good.

A trolley system sounds good as well, I've checked the link you gave Tuffers, looked at PureFreedom too.

I live in the sunny north-west, not sure I would need a Reverse Osmosis thing for here?

Which one would be better to use/less faffing around for a days work? Bare in mind I'll be fairly slow when I first start.

 
yeh TheBigGuy we all know what they say about the size of someones hands...:rofl:

 


me in the sunny north west...but tds from tap 173 so i got ro ....the thing is ...as soon as you get your pure ...you want more more more...i an addict...trad all my life but now....gota get banana out...my wonky pole...


 
the area I went wrong when started was the poles and brushes

my advice go for clx or if your cash can stretch slx 22

gardiners brushes or teubuk

must say your at best plc for advice we will all help the best we can

have fun and enjoy

 
ta duncs...both on my future shopping list...too many on here say the same.....better get saving up..

hey when the time comes ....i am sure banana will find other uses...

 
The best advice you will ever get is this! Buy the biggest and best set up you can afford ! If you need to borrow or go into debt to do it then do it. So many people get into this game and buy backpacks and 250ltr van systems that become obsolete after 6 months and then end up gathering dust and taking up room! Rather than starting small and changing from backpacks to a small van set up and a small van set up to a medium van set up etc etc etc ! It might seem expensive and even crazy to start from scratch with a good 500ltr R.O system but it's shockingly cheaper in the long run! As large as you can afford to borrow and buy is my advice.

 
i am with you on that jd but....what you forget is a full blown traddy dont believe in magic water...:rofl:

and so....if you start out small ...and do your own windows...and look ..and think...and then look again...hey...it works..

mr taytay is at that stage at the mo...but one day...he will see the light....:thumbsup:

yeh with hindsight...i would listen to jd...

 
Interesting take on it JD...would it not be putting all my eggs in one basket though?

Not disputing what you say, you've much, much more experience in this game than me. Just the fear factor of chucking thousands at something and having no customers/no experience of wfp!

 
You only live once BigGuy and if your serious about making your living from window cleaning then jump in with both feet. There is a lot of window cleaners out there and it might seem that their isnt any room left but there is and if you have the right attitude and determination then youll make a very good living out of it. Another incentive is if you have spent a lot of money on your set up then youll want to succeed even more........

 
Alright chaps,
New to the forum and read the sticky for newbs already, thing is my dad already has a window cleaning round which he is slowly winding down.

My aim is to pick up the pieces and start on my own (I have worked with him using trad method in the past).

The advice on the sticky was top drawer to be fair, just wondering if anyone can nudge me in the direction of a particular trolley/backpack system?

I'm in a soft water area and only have a car for now, don't want to plow too much cash into it to start.

Appreciate any advice!


Ask yourself how much you want to turnover each year, and use that figure to work out how much you need to invest, no more, no less.

Keep in mind if you set up any business on a shoestring budget, and decide to operate that way, any progress with be either incredibly slow to non existence. It will still be very quick to get to the stage where you can earn a living, but be prepared to stay at that level for years, if not indefinitely.

As for experience - you can from no experience with window cleaning, to breaking the £400 in a day target all within a 12 month period. Your choice of equipment can hold you back from doing this, but so can many other things.

 
Cheers for the advice, it's been great coming on here to get so many replies.

I've been weighing up a van, either already kitted out or one to kit out myself.

Hopefully I can take the plunge soon and start as I mean to go on, fortunately my employers are flexible so might do 4 days there, leaving 3 to get cracking.

 
Best way to pick up customers is by working on a saturday BigGuy. All the mums are at home and will be out to ask if you will clean theres.

 
Wished @J D gave me that advice when I first started. Messing about with a trolley soon done my head in for sure /emoticons/biggrin.png

The best advice you will ever get is this! Buy the biggest and best set up you can afford ! If you need to borrow or go into debt to do it then do it. So many people get into this game and buy backpacks and 250ltr van systems that become obsolete after 6 months and then end up gathering dust and taking up room! Rather than starting small and changing from backpacks to a small van set up and a small van set up to a medium van set up etc etc etc ! It might seem expensive and even crazy to start from scratch with a good 500ltr R.O system but it's shockingly cheaper in the long run! As large as you can afford to borrow and buy is my advice.
 
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